Journey to the political centre of America

Washington DC is a place I have wanted to visit for many years. Unfortunately their law about citizenship requirements for presidency have cut short my political aspirations but this is also the law that stands between the Terminator and the White House so I won't complain. Instead I do the next best thing and stand outside with the other members of the public. DC is fabulous. It is a city that pulsates with the energy of being the political centre as well as having so many galleries and museums. I was there for three full days and despite having very tightly packed days I barely scratched the surface. Some of the political highlights are below: the White House, the Hill (I don't call it Capitol Hill because in the West Wing it is called the Hill), the Washington Monument and Lincoln's Memorial. Lincoln's Memorial was very moving and I found his speeches which were printed on the walls incredible and I found myself rereading the phrases because of the sheer poetry. 

The musuems here are amazing. The Museum of American History reopened on my last day so I saw the flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner, the Gettysburg Address, an amazing section about the American Presidents and R2D2! If this wasn't enough I also saw Seinfeld's puffy shirt, Dorothy's ruby slippers and Kermit. The Air and Space Museum was brilliant and basically so were all the museums. One of the museums that slipped off the list was the International Spy Museum. It was partly a time issue, partly a cost issue and really I already know all there is to know about the life of an international spy!

It was a lovely part of the holiday and it was also one of the coldest parts. DC is COLD and what I experienced was only November weather. I am not quite sure how they manage in winter even though their heating is very good. I am not saying I have decided against being a senior adviser to the President but the cold weather is something to consider.

I flew to LA on Saturday and that is the end of east coast part of my US holiday. LA is certainly milder and it is fun to go from the political centre (or center if I am being faithful to the country I am staying in!) to the entertainment center but more of that in the next blog...